Published: Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:45 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:45 a.m.

HOUMA — With Independence Day days away, police are warning residents about the dangers of fireworks and reminding them of bans prohibiting their use.

But this weekend, amid the pops and blasts of festive explosives, officers are more likely to hand out warnings and possibly confiscate the fireworks instead of issuing a citation.

How aggressively restrictions are enforced hinges on an officer's discretion and the severity of the violation, according to local authorities. And some agencies said tracking down fireworks violators often proves difficult.

“If they feel like giving a warning is going to resolve the problem, they might do that,” said Maj. Malcolm Wolfe, a spokesman for the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office. “But they have issued a citation.”

Restrictions on fireworks differ in Terrebonne and Lafourche and also among the incorporated towns of Lafourche. Terrebonne's ordinance bans their possession, sale and discharging.

Lafourche allows residents to sell and discharge fireworks beginning in late June. Residents can shoot fireworks from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 26 through July 2 and July 5. On July 3 and 4, fireworks are permitted until midnight, according to the parish ordinance.

However, the parish prohibits bottle rockets, which are considered more dangerous than some other types of fireworks.

Municipalities within Lafourche have adopted their own restrictions:

n Thibodaux bans possession, sale and discharging.

n Golden Meadow residents are allowed to discharge fireworks July 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Community Park on La. 3235. Enacted in 1955, the law adds that anyone who sets off fireworks must clean up after themselves.

n Lockport allows fireworks beginning in late June. From June 26 through July 5 they can be discharged from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The town does not ban the possession of fireworks.

Last July 4, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office responded to about 34 complaints of illegal discharging, Wolfe said. Seven citations were issued.

Finding the violators can be difficult. Residents who call in complaints often ask to remain anonymous to avoid conflicts with the neighbors they are reporting, Wolfe said. Sometimes those discharging fireworks have cleared an area by the time officers arrive.

Whether to write a ticket is left to an officer's discretion. Often it is a matter of degree.

“Each case is different,” Wolfe said. “If you've got two or three calls in the same area, naturally you treat that different.”

Most officers will issue a warning, authorities said. Some will confiscate the fireworks.

Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said officers respond to fireworks complaints but their priority on July Fourth is searching for drunk drivers.

“If they catch someone red-handed, I'm going encourage them to issue the summons,” he said. “A lot of times you get out there and all you find are busted fireworks without anyone around.”

Golden Meadow Police Chief Randy Chiasson estimated his department gave out two fireworks citations last year, both to juveniles. The department is “somewhat” aggressive in enforcing the ban, he said, but its smaller force makes it difficult.

“If we happen to see them, we're going to do what we're going to do,” he said. “I'm limited in the number of people I can put out on the road to enforce this.”

Thibodaux Police responded to nine complaints between July 1 and 13 for fireworks and issued no citations. Detective Joey Quinn, a spokesman for the department, said officers issue warnings and confiscate the fireworks.

“I don't want to give the impression that it's OK to use fireworks in the city,” he said, adding that confiscation is a good deterrent. “If you spend $200 or $300 on fireworks and the police take it, you've just wasted that money.”

Mary Ledet, who manages the Cousin Eddie Fireworks tent stand on Bayou Blue Road, said she gets customers from parishes with bans. Most seem unconcerned with the legal risks.

“Some are gutsy enough to say they'll never get caught,” she said. “We see a lot of cops out there. They patrol and some might slip through the cracks. But they'll get them next season.”

Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.

<p>HOUMA — With Independence Day days away, police are warning residents about the dangers of fireworks and reminding them of bans prohibiting their use. </p><p>But this weekend, amid the pops and blasts of festive explosives, officers are more likely to hand out warnings and possibly confiscate the fireworks instead of issuing a citation.</p><p>How aggressively restrictions are enforced hinges on an officer's discretion and the severity of the violation, according to local authorities. And some agencies said tracking down fireworks violators often proves difficult.</p><p>“If they feel like giving a warning is going to resolve the problem, they might do that,” said Maj. Malcolm Wolfe, a spokesman for the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office. “But they have issued a citation.”</p><p>Restrictions on fireworks differ in Terrebonne and Lafourche and also among the incorporated towns of Lafourche. Terrebonne's ordinance bans their possession, sale and discharging. </p><p>Lafourche allows residents to sell and discharge fireworks beginning in late June. Residents can shoot fireworks from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 26 through July 2 and July 5. On July 3 and 4, fireworks are permitted until midnight, according to the parish ordinance.</p><p>However, the parish prohibits bottle rockets, which are considered more dangerous than some other types of fireworks.</p><p>Municipalities within Lafourche have adopted their own restrictions:</p><p>n Thibodaux bans possession, sale and discharging.</p><p>n Golden Meadow residents are allowed to discharge fireworks July 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Community Park on La. 3235. Enacted in 1955, the law adds that anyone who sets off fireworks must clean up after themselves.</p><p>n Lockport allows fireworks beginning in late June. From June 26 through July 5 they can be discharged from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The town does not ban the possession of fireworks.</p><p>Last July 4, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office responded to about 34 complaints of illegal discharging, Wolfe said. Seven citations were issued.</p><p>Finding the violators can be difficult. Residents who call in complaints often ask to remain anonymous to avoid conflicts with the neighbors they are reporting, Wolfe said. Sometimes those discharging fireworks have cleared an area by the time officers arrive.</p><p>Whether to write a ticket is left to an officer's discretion. Often it is a matter of degree.</p><p>“Each case is different,” Wolfe said. “If you've got two or three calls in the same area, naturally you treat that different.”</p><p>Most officers will issue a warning, authorities said. Some will confiscate the fireworks.</p><p>Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said officers respond to fireworks complaints but their priority on July Fourth is searching for drunk drivers.</p><p>“If they catch someone red-handed, I'm going encourage them to issue the summons,” he said. “A lot of times you get out there and all you find are busted fireworks without anyone around.”</p><p>Golden Meadow Police Chief Randy Chiasson estimated his department gave out two fireworks citations last year, both to juveniles. The department is “somewhat” aggressive in enforcing the ban, he said, but its smaller force makes it difficult.</p><p>“If we happen to see them, we're going to do what we're going to do,” he said. “I'm limited in the number of people I can put out on the road to enforce this.”</p><p>Thibodaux Police responded to nine complaints between July 1 and 13 for fireworks and issued no citations. Detective Joey Quinn, a spokesman for the department, said officers issue warnings and confiscate the fireworks.</p><p>“I don't want to give the impression that it's OK to use fireworks in the city,” he said, adding that confiscation is a good deterrent. “If you spend $200 or $300 on fireworks and the police take it, you've just wasted that money.”</p><p>Mary Ledet, who manages the Cousin Eddie Fireworks tent stand on Bayou Blue Road, said she gets customers from parishes with bans. Most seem unconcerned with the legal risks.</p><p>“Some are gutsy enough to say they'll never get caught,” she said. “We see a lot of cops out there. They patrol and some might slip through the cracks. But they'll get them next season.” </p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.</p>